New Delhi: Tehelka managing director Tarun Tejpal on July 2 charged government with "targetting" the news portal both in the cross-examination and the affidavits filed before the Venkataswami Commission even as government accused the news portal of "ethical transgression" while undertaking the sting operation on alleged corruption in Defence deals.

Pointing out that tehelka was the only noticee to be cross-examined by the government, Tejpal, who was being questioned continuously for the fourth day, said that the government never cared to cross-examine any of the other noticees and even never wrote a line against them in the reams of affidavits filed before the Commission.

It was a clear evidence of government's intention of probing only tehelka and not others against whom allegations of corruption were made, Tejpal said when questioned by government's counsel additional solicitor general Kirit N Raval.

Contesting the same and citing the actions such as court martial and the establishment of the Venkatswami Commission, Raval said that they all are actions taken by the government to ascertain the facts.

Accusing tehelka of "transgression", Raval alleged that it had violated the law of the land including Prevention of Corruption Act and Immoral Traffic Prevention Act.

Admitting that there was a "ethical transgression" while undertaking the sting operation, Tejpal, however, said that public interest can at times take people to the wrong side of the law. Nobody can do transgression but journalists in the public interest can do a bit, Tejpal said.

PTI